When we do a child sleep consultation with a family, we often hear about how their child was “a fantastic sleeper” until they were four months old. Then, all of a sudden, everything changed and they couldn’t get their child to sleep. This change is commonly referred to as “the four month sleep regression” in the sleep world. Is it a real thing? Do all babies have a regression? What causes this regression? How can you help your baby during this time?
Newborn Sleep
As a newborn, your baby has no set sleep schedule, no absolute ways that they can fall asleep on their own, and little-to-no self-soothing skills in place. Some babies are very calm from the beginning and sleep very easily during this period, while others need help in order to calm down, fall asleep, and stay asleep. You may have a friend or family member who brags that their child started “sleeping through the night” at about 3 weeks old. Some babies do sleep for very long stretches, but for most of them, this is not the norm. If your baby is not doing this, there is nothing wrong with them! In general, babies spend a lot of their sleep time in very deep sleep, but this changes around the four month mark.
The “Regression” Begins
At four months, baby sleep begins to mature. Mature sleep has cycles of light sleep and deep sleep (REM sleep and Non-REM sleep). Technically, because sleep begins to mature at about four months of age, it really isn’t a regression at all, but a progression. Biologically, your baby’s circadian rhythm is developing, which will help make her sleep more predictable. All babies make this progression with their sleep, and that is a good thing!
There are other things happening around this time as well. Your baby is becoming much more socially aware and capable of recognizing people. She may also be learning to roll over. This new developmental skill almost always wakes babies during the night until they have mastered it. Some babies are also using their mouth to explore the world around them and their bodies (grabbing their hands, feet, and anything else they can get their hands on). If your baby is doing these things, sleep is guaranteed to be changing too. While you may have been helping your baby to fall asleep before this, help may become more difficult for a lot of babies.
How to Help Your Baby Sleep
Drowsy, But Awake
If you know before four months that this change is coming, you can prepare for it by starting to work on putting your baby down drowsy, but awake. This takes practice and it takes time, but it allows the conditions for your baby falling asleep to remain constant. Use your night time soothing routine to help your baby get to this drowsy state (eyes open) and then put her down awake. That way, when your baby wakes, nothing has changed and they have a better chance of falling back to sleep. With babies under four months, help your baby as much as needed—we do not sleep train newborns. If your baby is particularly fussy or experiencing colic, you may need to wait to work on these techniques and employ some of the strategies I suggest for calming a crying baby.
If your baby is four months or older and you have not been working on the drowsy-but-awake technique, please don’t panic! You can still help your child sleep better.
Move Towards a Clock Schedule
Try to prevent your child from becoming overtired. This is an important development time. It’s exhausting for them! You can begin to create a predictable schedule for their naps and bedtime and this will help keep your child from being overtired and may help with the common fussiness that occurs at this age. Sleep training methods used at this age can vary. You can pick a method that makes you feel comfortable so you can remain consistent.
Earlier Bedtimes
Early bedtimes can also help sleep consolidate and lengthen into much longer stretchess. A lot of families worry that an early bedtime will result in an early wake up time, but babies generally wake up early (between 6:00 and 7:00 to start the day). The early bedtime can help them connect sleep cycles and fall asleep indpedently.
The four month sleep regression can be tough, but you will get through it! This is just one exciting change that occurs during the first year. If we look at it more as progress, it can help make the time a little easier. Here’s to your baby’s progress!
Is your 4-month old suddenly not sleeping? We can help you decide if sleep training would be helpful. No two babies are alike, so we work one on one with families to create plans that fit your family’s sleep situation. Contact us for more information.
Written by Lori Strong, Certified Sleep Consultant and Owner of Strong Little Sleepers
Lori is a Certified Child Sleep Consultant and Certified Happiest Baby Educator. She is the founder and owner of Strong Little Sleepers, which was started on the idea that all families need and deserve to get a good night’s sleep. Lori was the first certified child sleep consultant in Austin, Texas and was honored as Best Sleep Expert in the 2019 and 2013 Austin Birth Awards. She is also a member of the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants. Lori combines her experience as an educator and a parent to offer customized sleep plans and support to families with children ages 0-6 across the country.